Happy McGrady doesn't want to push too hard too soon

GREENBURGH, N.Y. - The pulsating Garden floor, the roar of adoring fans and his return to relevancy haven't clouded Tracy McGrady's judgment. Despite his impressive debut with the Knicks on Saturday night, the seven-time All-Star is leery of pushing his body to the limit too soon.

"I haven't played in so long and I don't want to jump into averaging 30-something minutes right now," said the 6-8 swingman, who scored 26 points in 32 minutes in the Knicks' overtime loss to Oklahoma City. "I just don't think that's a smart thing to do."

Instead, McGrady, who had a light practice before receiving treatment on his left knee Sunday, will take his cues from his body. He didn't wake up feeling sore or stiff Sunday, which is an encouraging sign for him and coach Mike D'Antoni.

"I feel better than I thought I would feel," said McGrady, who had microfracture knee surgery a year ago. "My knee was a lot sorer last night than it is today, so that's a positive sign . . . because I haven't played 32 minutes in God knows how long."

With back-to-back games against the Bucks and Celtics starting Monday night, D'Antoni will have to figure out how to best use McGrady. The former Rockets star said he likely will need to play five games, during which he averages 25 to 30 minutes, before he's considered in game shape.

"He knows his body, and I'll just try to take his word for it," said D'Antoni, whose team has lost six straight and 15 of 19. "He might maybe miss the first back-to-back, I don't know. We would like to get to a point where he's playing normal and playing normal minutes."

McGrady said he "definitely" plans to play in both games, though he's not sure for how long, and that he's certain he'll get his explosiveness back once his legs get in better shape.

His performance Saturday night might have been an indication of things to come.

McGrady was bombarded with text messages, phone calls and e-mails from friends and family after the game. Some of the most touching messages were from some of his former Rockets teammates, he said.

"A lot of people know what I really went through the last two years," he said, "and to have that support from everybody who sent me texts and sent me e-mails - and to even have the fans last night, that felt so good, I'm telling you. I thank you.

"It just felt good to be back, and back to having fun again. Before, I wasn't having fun, I wasn't enjoying the game, and this is what I love to do. And I thank the New York fans for really giving me that back and all the people who supported me up until this point."

In less than a month, McGrady will have the chance to show his former teammates that he's really back. Asked if he's had a chance to check out the remainder of the Knicks' schedule - in particular, their home game against Houston on March 21 - McGrady couldn't help but laugh. "You already know," he said with a smile. "One o'clock game."